What is Telegram used for?

Telegram is a cloud-based messenger with synced chats across devices, large groups, channels, bots and an open API. It is a good fit for running a community group chat, broadcasting updates to subscribers through a channel and building chatbots for automation.

Is Telegram open source?

No. Telegram is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to Telegram include FluffyChat, Delta Chat and Signal Android.

What are some alternatives to Telegram?

Telegram competes with WhatsApp, Signal and Viber. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Telegram alternatives.

Telegram: features, pricing and alternatives

About Telegram

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app available for Android, iPhone and iPad, Windows, macOS and Linux, as well as in the browser. Chats are stored in the cloud and synced, so you can pick up a conversation on any of your devices. The vendor says messages are encrypted and can self-destruct.

Beyond one-to-one chat, Telegram supports very large groups, channels for broadcasting, and bots that developers build through its open API. Recent updates announced on its site include a rich text editor, Telegram Communities that link groups, channels and bots together, ephemeral messages in groups, welcome messages for new members and buttons inside messages.

Telegram is a proprietary service run by its operators, although the project states that its API is open and that the source code of its apps is available. Apps are free to download from the official site.

Key features

Cloud-synced chats across devices
Large groups and broadcast channels
Bots built on an open API
Self-destructing messages
Apps for mobile, desktop and web
Communities linking groups and channels

Good fit for

→Running a community group chat
→Broadcasting updates to subscribers through a channel
→Building chatbots for automation

Tags: messenger; chat; channels; bots; groups; encrypted; cloud-sync; api

Telegram: questions and answers

What is Telegram used for?: Telegram is a cloud-based messenger with synced chats across devices, large groups, channels, bots and an open API. It is a good fit for running a community group chat, broadcasting updates to subscribers through a channel and building chatbots for automation.
Is Telegram free?: Yes. Telegram has a free plan.
Is Telegram open source?: No. Telegram is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to Telegram include FluffyChat, Delta Chat and Signal Android.
What are some alternatives to Telegram?: Telegram competes with WhatsApp, Signal and Viber. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Telegram alternatives.